Highway Surveillance Shift: Govt Expands CCTV, Digital Road Monitoring
The government is bringing national highways under CCTV surveillance on a priority basis, with regional and district-level roads to be gradually brought under digital footage coverage.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam shared the information with journalists on Monday (May 4), following a working session held with the Road Transport and Highways Division, the Ministry of Railways, and the Ministry of Shipping.
Speaking after attending the fifth session on the second day of the Deputy Commissioners (DC) Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, the minister said, “We aim to bring national highways under CCTV coverage on a priority basis. Subsequently, we have taken steps to include regional highways and then district highways under CCTV monitoring.”
He added that Deputy Commissioners were requested to support the implementation of government development projects. “Land acquisition remains a major challenge in executing large-scale projects. In the case of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, land acquisition was not completed even after four years. When I assumed office, it stood at 20 percent; within two months, it has reached 46 percent. Instructions have been given to complete it within the next two months,” he said.
Regarding the regulation of three-wheeler movement on highways, Sheikh Rabiul Alam said, “As these vehicles still have access to highways, controlling them remains difficult. However, compared to any previous time, the situation has improved somewhat. Discussions have been held on how to regulate them more effectively, and we hope to bring them under control gradually.”
Responding to a question on accidents at level crossings and incidents of stone-throwing at trains, the minister said, “This is extremely dangerous for road safety, and such practices do exist. We are intensifying efforts by railway police and relevant security forces to curb this. Public awareness must also be increased.”
He further stated, “Based on the DO letters (semi-official correspondence) submitted by Members of Parliament over the past two months, it would require Tk 300,000 crore to widen roads nationwide. However, the budget allocation is unlikely to exceed Tk 40,000 crore, based on past experience. Therefore, we must proceed based on priorities. The government aims to implement projects with transparency, neutrality, and prioritization.”
The minister also noted that speed breakers are being installed indiscriminately in many places, often without proper assessment of necessity.
DBTech/JN/EK/OR
